Agricultural Heritage Takes Main Stage in Sparta

SPARTA- The West Sparta Joint Task Force is set to celebrate the Genesee Valley’s agricultural heritage with their fourth annual Old-Fashioned Day from 10a.m. to 4p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

The Task Force anticipates hundreds of visitors at the Park at the West Sparta Town Hall for a wide variety of free 19th century activities and demonstrations, including a reenactors’ parade, a “vendor village,” old country dances to traditional music, a fishing pond, games of horseshoes, a tug-of-war contest, music lessons on old instruments, horse-drawn wagon rides, an expanded vintage tractor and car show, and, until 2pm, a petting zoo offering pony rides for children.

“We usually have around 200 to 300 visitors, and 100 people involved,” said Sarah Booher of the West Sparta Joint Task Force. “Last year we had 70 kids. There are always lots of games with free prizes for the kids.”

Reenactors from the 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Living History Organization will set up military and civilian Civil War camps and give demonstrations on military camp set up, open fire cooking, firearms of the period, proper uniforms and kit, battlefield surveying, quilt making, doll making, laundry and daily chores.

The day’s long list of demonstrations include blacksmithing by Gary Gerken, mustang training by Jack and Emma Minteer, wheat threshing by Bob and Chris Phelps, heavy horse team plowing by Terry and Rick Neu, Fire Trucks and Fire Fighting Equipment by the West Sparta Volunteer Fire Department, mounted and canine units by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, and a History of West Sparta display in the Town Hall by the West Sparta Historical Society.

There will be free gifts for first 20 families to arrive, andeach adult visitor will receive a free door-prize ticket when they arrive, to be drawn at 11:45a.m. and 3:45p.m. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the Park entrance until they are drawn at 3:45.

All activities are free and open to everyone. Visitors are invited to come by in costumes of the period if they wish.

Everyone is invited to come out for a day packed with unique activities, at the park at 8302 Kysorville-Byersville Road, or to call (585) 335-5094 for more information.